EVEN Claps Back Against Ugly Discrimination Lawsuit

Photo Credit: EVEN

Superfan platform EVEN pushes back against a music exec’s allegations of workplace discrimination in the two parties’ ongoing litigation. But does a single ‘smoking gun’ text message prove their case.

Direct-to-consumer superfan platform EVEN is facing a lawsuit from former executive Damien “DDot” Washington, while the two parties are also co-defendants in a separate lawsuit against the company by Babygrande Records. The litigation comes amid what should be a celebratory moment for EVEN, which just inked a partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG).

Now, EVEN is pushing back against allegations against the company and CEO Enrique “Mag” Rodriguez made by Washington—not just in his lawsuit, but in a recent interview with World Music Views.

Specifically, claims made by Washington seem to contradict documented evidence, as pointed out by EVEN’s PR firm CD Consulting. That includes his assertion that he was “randomly added” to the Babygrande lawsuit due to his industry profile and former connections to EVEN.  EVEN’s CEO, Enrique ‘Mag’ Rodriguez, declined to respond to our inquiries.

(Incidentally, EVEN’s reps initially threatened DMN if we didn’t remove our initial story entirely — though in matters like these, we try to politely offer suggestions on where to stuff certain things. And now back to our regularly-programmed story.)

According to text messages and other materials referenced in court documents, Washington confirmed he was “working at EVEN with [Babygrande artist Stove God Cooks] using my Mailchimp” and acting on instructions “on behalf outside of EVEN.” This, the company asserts, illustrates that Washington was not “randomly added,” but was instead “at the dead-center, beating heart” of the complaint.

DDot’s lawsuit accuses EVEN and Rodriguez of discrimination, retaliation, labor violations, wrongful termination, and deliberate misclassification as an independent contractor. Texts on record show that he acknowledged he was not working directly for EVEN, despite his claims during the interview that he was a full-time employee.

“Mr. Washington’s false claims should be considered in the context of his own words when he was informed that he was named in the Babygrande lawsuit on October 30, 2024,” reads a statement from CD Consulting sent to Digital Music News. “Mr. Washington knows this text exchange is in the public record, and still filed this frivolous lawsuit. The facts will continue to demonstrate that all of Mr. Washington’s claims are baseless and false.”

Both lawsuits come at a pivotal moment for EVEN, which just announced a partnership with UMG late last week. Only days before the two companies put pen to paper, DDot filed his lawsuit against EVEN, amid the existing Babygrande litigation.

A remote conference is scheduled for March 11th in the Babygrande case, which will address “disputed call recordings and related discovery matters.” Babygrande must file any responses by March 9th, while the court denied a previous request for an extension.